Reacting to the fine of N5 million, he declared that “media will not be silenced as Nigeria belongs to everyone”.

Recall that the NBC had fined the TV channels following a petition by the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, after Okinbaloye’s interview with the Vice Presidential candidate of Labour party, Datti Baba-Ahmed on March 22 where the VP on TV kicked against the swearing-in of Tinubu as president come May 29.

While appearing on the show, Baba-Ahmed called on president Buhari and the Chief Justice of Nigeria not to swear in Tinubu, insisting that declaring Tinubu a winner and issuing him a certificate of return was against the constitution.

In the petition signed by his media aide, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu accused the Labour Party’s vice presidential candidate of making several inciting comments during the interview and also noted that Okinbaloye failed to act professionally by stopping the politician from making such comments.

This is contained in a letter addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of the television station and dated March 27.

The News Agency of Nigeria exclusively obtained the letter on Friday in Abuja.

The letter, with the title: “Broadcast of an Inciting Interview, A Sanction”, was signed by Balarabe Ilelah, the commission’s Director-General.

It read in part, “The NBC monitored the broadcast of a live interview of the running mate of the Labour Party Vice presidential candidate, Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed, by the anchor of Politics Today, Seun Okibaloye, on Wednesday, March 22. “Dr Baba-Ahmed said it will be unconstitutional to swear in an elected president on May 29, 2023, because of election irregularities.”

He noted that the broadcast was volatile and capable of inciting public disorder, violating some sections of the broadcasting code.

“Consequently, on the following infractions, Channels Television is hereby sanctioned and shall pay a penalty of N5,000,000 (five million naira) only in the first instance,” he said.

He added that any further infraction by the television station would attract higher sanctions.

“You are advised to pay within two weeks from the day of receipt of this letter or the penalty will be graduated,” the NBC Director-General

According to Channels Television, a source in the Presidency revealed the decision to suspend the programme by the Federal Government.

The Presidency source also revealed that the Nigeria Governors ’ Forum would be addressing the issue soon.